1701. Third meeting house erected, perhaps near on the site of the soldiers monument. It was banked up with stones and gravel from the old fort on the green. The pulpit of this house was placed “near ye edge of ye great rock in ye meeting house about seventeen foot from ye wall.”

1814. Betsey Telock, aged 49, is burned to death January 5. 1814. It has been commonly reported that she came to her end by spontaneous combustion from the inordinate use of ardent spirits, but it is the opinion of the gentleman who first discovered her body soon after the flames in her room were extinguished that she caught her bed clothes on fire with a candle and thus lost her life.

1914. Sympathetic organizations send help to Britain, Belgium and France as World War I begins with the German invasions.

1916. —Cable Memorial Hospital is built and equipped by Richard T. Crane, Jr., and given to the Trustees for the Town.

1917. As the United States goes to war, many Ipswich men begin service in the armed forces. About 200 serve through the war.

1918. A severe influenza epidemic strikes the Town with so many people ill that they are cared for in tents on the hospital grounds. There are many deaths.

Ipswich celebrates the end of the war, and the service men return home.

Col. F. R. Appleton, Jr., is one of the founders of the American Legion in Paris. The American Legion is organized in Ipswich.

1920. Period of postwar unemployment causes much hardship among families, who are compelled to seek help from the Out Poor Department.

1921. —Memorial Building is voted to be built in memory of Ipswich Veterans of all wars at a cost of $52,000.

1922. —Hayward’s Stocking Manufacturing Plant is organized by Walter Hayward and his friend, Perley Barbour, and the building is constructed on land that was purchased from the Boston and Maine Railroad.

1923. Rotary Club is formed with twenty members, soon increased to twenty-eight. Walter Hayward is the first President.

1928. The closing of the Ipswich Hosiery Mills, caused by the failure of the owners, the Lawrence family to modernize, leaves several hundred people unemployed.

The Great Depression brings desperately hard times to the people of Ipswich. Many families are able to survive only because of the help of the Town’s Welfare Department and of the federal agencies like the ERA, CWA, PWA and WPA, most of which are supervised by Selectman Brainard Wallace.

1934. The 300th anniversary of the incorporation of Ipswich is celebrated. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, on North Main street is dedicated.

1936. The Ipswich High School is completed with the help of federal funds on Green Street at the site of the old jail, at a cost of $229,000. The opening is celebrated with a gala reunion of all the classes of Manning High.1937. An expedition starts from Ipswich to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Manasseh Cutler’s expedition to Marietta, Ohio, in the Northwest Territory. Ipswich’s belief in freedom of the individual is believed to be an important contribution to the development of non-slave governments in that Territory.

1938. Robinson’s Shipyard on Fox Creek is set up to build yachts and sailing ships. When war comes, the company converts to building a variety of vessels for the Navy. The Great Hurricane causes much damage and the destruction of hundreds of ancient elm trees.

1941. After President Roosevelt and Congress declare war on Germany and Japan, hundreds of men and women begin to join all the armed forces. Sylvania converts to super-secret war work for the Navy. 1,200 people are employed there building a device which was revealed to be the proximity fuse which had an important role in achieving victory. Townspeople participate in Civil Defense work. airplane spotting, air-raid drills, and War Bond drives.

1945. –In May World War II in Europe comes to an end with the defeat of Hitler’s armed forces; and in August, with the news of the surrender of Japan, an impromptu parade downtown to the honor roll celebrates the victory, but remembers with prayer the 30 men and one woman who gave their lives. (Shortly thereafter, the VFW, the Amvets and the PLAV join the American Legion in representing the veterans of Ipswich.)

1948. Movement for Charter government begins, with John F. Conley as the chief proponent of more effective and economical town government.

1950. Selectmen-Town Manager Charter is approved by the voters to go into effect March 1951. Joseph Coupal is appointed first Town Manager.

The total assessed valuation of the Town is $9,119,855.

As the Korean War begins, several Ipswich young men join the armed forces.

The townspeople join with the Trustees of Reservations to fight a possible state take-over of Crane’s Beach.

1951. Ancient Indian artifacts are discovered at Bull Brook, initiating intensive studies of prehistoric Indian cultures.

1952. Dispute in ownership of Crane’s Beach is resolved by negotiation between the Trustees of Reservations and the Selectmen, and by final approval of Town Meeting. The League of Women Voters of Ipswich is organized.

1954. Town Manager Charter is narrowly defeated in March. A new Executive-Secretary Charter is approved by the voters in November to go into effect in March. 1955. Norris Stilphen is appointed Executive-Secretary. Two damaging hurricanes. Carol and Edna. strike the Town.

1955. —- Town’s Sewerage Committee issues a report recommending a sewer system to be built in three stages for the Town. The State’s Public Health Department urges the Town to end the pollution of the Ipswich River.

A polio epidemic makes parents fearful for children’s safety. A new Winthrop Elementary School is voted to be constructed to replace the old Winthrop on Central Street.

Supporters of improved school housing try many times to provide a 61 new High School to get secondary students off double sessions, but do not succeed in achieving the necessary two-thirds vote in many balloting efforts.

Several Greek Americans have developed large commercial enterprises for the processing and distribution of Ipswich clams.

1956. – P.C. 1 186 anti submarine vessel is named after Ipswich.

The first housing for the elderly is contracted for by the Ipswich Housing Authority.

Ipswich people strongly oppose the proposal of Essex County Electric Company to install power lines across the countryside to Essex and Gloucester.

Town Meeting approves Bamford’s $50,000 by-law, requiring a referendum vote, rather than a Town Meeting vote, on any capital improvement exceeding that amount, except for a town utility.

The first members of the Town’s three ethnic populations are elected to the Board of Selectmen. John Pechilis, a Greek-American, in 1956; Walter Dziadul, a Polish-American, in 1957; and John Trudel, a French-American, in 1958.

1957. Conservation Commission is appointed after state legislation sponsored by Representative John Dolan is approved by the General Court.

First Zoning By-lave is approved by the voters to control the kind of haphazard growth that is threatening the Town.

Construction of Stage I of the Sewerage System is approved by the voters with the 5600,000 bond issue to be borne by the Town, and $143,000 granted by the Federal Government.

1958. The Navy’s highest civilian award is given to J. Warren Horton, a native of Ipswich, for his work on the development of sonar.

Construction of the sewer system is begun, with the trunk lines and treatment plant being completed first and then with the municipal buildings being tied in.

With the help of matching funds from the State, odoriferous Farley Brook is enclosed through the downtown parking area.

1960. John Updike, a resident of Ipswich, is honored by the National Institute of Arts and Letters for his first novel, “Poorhouse Fair”.

Among the Ipswich people who are listed in the 1960 edition of Who’s Who in America are. Dr. Charles Sidney Burwell, Robert Gray Dodge, Harold Eugene Dow, Ben Perley Poore Moseley, Sidney Nichols Shurcliff.

1961. Town Meeting votes to amend the Bamford By-law so that a vote on a school costing less than $500,000 can be taken at Town Meeting. In April the Town Meeting votes $495,000 to build an intermediate school on the High Street site.

1962. In January the Town Meeting votes $495,000 additional funds to make the intermediate school into a High School. Amid much controversy, Campanelli Builders, Inc., starts a large residential development in the Linebrook area, later to be known as Pinefield. Citizens for Better Government petition for revocation of the Executive-Secretary Charter, and in the referendum vote, they succeed by 29 votes.

1963. Town returns to the modified old selectmen form of government from 1963 to 1967. Town receives a $193,000 matching grant from the Federal Government for improvements to the water system.

1964. Selectmen, as Electric Light Commissioners, make the decision to purchase some electric power from the Massachusetts Electric system while continuing to operate the municipal generating plant. An elementary school is built in the Linebrook area, and is later named “Doyon” for a young man from the area who was killed in the Vietnam War. The Historical Commission is established by vote of Town Meeting.

1965. 100% revaluation of the property in Town is completed, and the assessed value of property, both real and personal, is $53,533,000. Long-time Selectmen Nathaniel Quint and John F. Conley resign from office because of the new Conflict of Interest Law. Some Ipswich people go south to participate in the demonstrations of the Civil Rights movement; most Ipswich people support the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965. Old North Church on Meetinghouse Green is destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning. (A new modern church is begun on the same site some years later.) When the power blackout occurs in the whole Northeastern U.S., the lights in Ipswich stay on, thanks to our independent municipal power plant.

1966. The new St. Joseph Church is begun at the intersection of Linebrook and Pineswamp roads, on the old Ellsworth farm. For the first time, the municipal employees are represented by the labor union in their negotiations for a contract with the Town.

1967. A new Town Manager Charter, which was drawn up by the Government Study Committee, is approved by the voters and goes into effect in March. John Stinson is appointed Town Manager.

1968. Citizens are deeply concerned at the escalation of the Vietnam War, and at the danger to Americans who are serving there in the armed forces, including many Ipswich men.

1969. A zoning amendment for a Planned Community Development is approved by Town Meeting, but a specific proposal for a development by the Radice Corporation in the Linebrook area fails when the article for a sewer extension is defeated in a referendum vote. (Controversy continues for years until the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering denies permission for the development’s on-site sewer system in 1976.) The Town begins its efforts to find a solution to its water shortages, which are caused by the demand of its growing population. However, a proposal for the Kimball Brook Reservoir is indefinitely postponed at Town Meeting. The Hayes Hotel in Depot Square burns down causing four deaths.

1970 . Betty Cole is elected as Ipswich’s first woman Selectman. Richard Conti is appointed Town Manager. The population of the Town grows from 8.544 in 1960 to 10.750 in 1970. Two important projects. a new high school and a new sewer treatment plant. are twice defeated on balloting days in spring and fall. Ipswich people, like people nationwide, find that their lives are affected more and more by national politics and events, and by the power and influence of television programming.

1971. The first step of a controversial proposal for a nuclear power plant in Ipswich is defeated at Town Meeting. Advocates for Charter Government defeat the attempt of Concerned Citizens to revoke the Town Manager Charter.

1972. Planning Advisory Committees are appointed to help develop a Master Plan. Their “Problems and Opportunities” report reveals that the townspeople want to retain the rural, historical environment of the Town.

1973. Leonard Silvia is appointed Town Manager.

1974. A new Electric Light Building on High Street near the Generating Plant is completed, and the Department moves to its new quarters from the building on Elm Street, which is turned over to the Town.

A Wetlands Amendment is approved by Town Meeting to become part of the Town’s Zoning By-law.

The Town approves the purchase of 12 acres of land to protect the Dow Brook Watershed.

1975. The Historical Commission publishes “Something to Preserve”, a report on a Pilot Project demonstrating a method of protecting historic buildings by acquiring Preservation Agreements.

1975. — 77 acres of Marini Farms are purchased by the Town to save agricultural land and to protect the Dow Watershed.

1976. Joseph Mitchell is appointed Town Manager, but resigns after several months in office.

The Town is awarded a $100,000 HUD Community Development Block Grant for the beautification project on North Main Street and for the rehabilitation of homes in the central downtown area.

George Howe is appointed Town Manager

1977. A second CDB Grant is approved by HUD to continue the work of rehabilitation for low-income families.

80 low-income apartments for the elderly and 14 for families are constructed at Agawam Village off County Road by the Ipswich Housing Authority.

A comprehensive revision of the Zoning by-law is adopted by Town Meeting vote, to plan for more orderly growth and to comply with the State Zoning Enabling Act.

The South Parish House, operated as a Teen Drop-in Center by the Youth Commission, is tragically destroyed by fire.

Continuing water shortages plague the Town.

The new Sewer Treatment Plant becomes operational and functions very effectively, a source of pride to the Town.

1978. Another year of water shortages forces methods of conservation on the citizens.

Essex Road Well is begun (and is completed in 1979).

Town dump is closed, and the site becomes a solid waste transfer station.

1979. —- A tax cap set by the voting of Proposition 2 1/2 on the State level causes stringent economies in the Town budget.

Town Meeting votes that the Electric Light Department should not invest any further through Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company in the Seabrook nuclear plant.

The Conservation Commission publishes an Open Space/Recreation Plan.

A revaluation is performed to assess all property at 100% valuation. The new assessed value is $236,464,240.

1980. George Howe is reappointed, the first second-term Town Manager.

Harold Bowen makes a bequest of his 1720 home to the Town of Ipswich.

Massachusetts Historical Commission announces that four districts in the historic areas of town are named to the National Register of Historic Places.

The proposal for a town-controlled Industrial Park on Mitchell Road is defeated.

Two devastating fires bring the terrible loss of life to three members of the Norris family and the destruction of Hill’s Store in Market Street.

A Community Development Block Grant of $300,000 is awarded for the improvement of the downtown shopping area.

Hill’s Store is rebuilt.

1981. Downtown shopping area is greatly improved with the restoration of the Caldwell Block and the building of the Market Place which replaces the burned-out Damon Building.

1983. Plan for Middle School. grades 6, 7, and 8. is inaugurated in the Whipple Junior High School, Green Street.

1984. Town Meeting votes to build a new water treatment plant at a cost of $5,360.000.

Finance Committee announces that the Town is in excellent financial shape. The 1984-85 budget is $9.405,003. The 1983 valuation is $300,706,450. The FY 1984 tax rate is $19.25.

The Town Census shows our population to be 11,757.

The Town prepares for summer festivities to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of our incorporation as Ipswich.

One of the most permanent memorials will be the new monument erected by the veterans’ organizations at the honor roll site on South Main Street in memory of all Ipswich men and women who have served this nation in time of war.

1985. Sharpshooters were hired by The Trustees of Reservations to cull Crane Reservation deer herd.

George Pappas and the Ipswich Shellfish Co. celebrated 50 years in business.

Strand Theater is closed and torn down.

First town planner hired.

1986. Town meeting passes $1.5 million bond to build new addition to Winthrop School.

Green Street sewer project gets underway.

Alice Mosely became Ipswich’s first woman police officer.

1987. Meadowview Farm Development approved.

New school policy requires equal opportunity for both sexes in hiring practices and educational programs.

First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton bought former Christmas Angel on County Rd. for a church.

Harvest Market on Central St. closes.

Town emergency declared as Ipswich River swelled beyond its banks.

Cable Hospital is converted into 70 apartments for the elderly and disabled citizens.

Boardwalk was built from parking lot to Crane Beach.

The town created a demolition delay bylaw.

1988. Winthrop new school addition is opened.

Smoking was banned in Town Hall, Police and Fire Stations.

Anne Killeen and Anne Keraghan became our first women firefighters.

Appleton Farms celebrated 350 years of continuous operation by the Appleton Family.

Quint’s Corner, which opened in 1936, stopped serving lunch and ice cream at the lunch counter.

New water treatment plant.

1989. Scientists and Nature experts predict that within a century the sea level near Ipswich would rise 3 to 11 feet and destroy 37-130 acres of Crane Beach.

Developer John Cormier purchased the historic 1640 Hart House with plans to turn it into a restaurant.

Quint’s closed.

Colburn Home for elderly is closed and will be sold.

Street number bylaw established.

1990. The Population of Ipswich is 12,791.

The Merchants Association was formed.

Kommittee for Kids was started.

Mary Conley Preservation Award for Historic Home Preservation was established.

Ipswich County Club was forced into bankruptcy.

1991. Ipswich County Club was taken over by the Malden Bank for Savings.

Mime Crane donated Hog Island to The Trustees of Reservations along with a $3 million trust.

The Emergency Operating Center (EOC) was opened when Hurricane Bob paid a messy visit.

GTE-Sylvania puts its Ipswich plant up for sale.

Position of Finance Director established.

New sign bylaw was approved.

Choate Bridge Dedication Ceremony.

Composting facility opened.

Municipal government reorganization.

1992. Harbormaster gets new boat.

School Committee entered school choice program.

Town-wide curbside recycling began.

Town building inspector enforced modern building code in historic homes.

Town historians announced they would start preservation of historical ancestry documents.

Town of Ipswich became home to two Chambers of Commerce when the Ipswich Business Association incorporated itself under the name of the Ipswich Community Chamber of Commerce.

First Saturday town meeting held.

1993. St. Lawrence Literary Society decided to allow women to join their club.

Strong fire chief law turned down by State Supreme Court.

Woolworth’s closes

Sally Dodge’s Farm, Greenwood Farm, was turned over to the Trustees of Reservations.

1994. A 243-year-old house in Lords Square is demolished.

Communications tower at Cable Gardens was rejected by selectmen.

Bond was signed by selectman for addition to Doyon School.

Thousands of seeds, to feed 60 families, were planted at Cuvilly Farm on Turkey Shore Rd.

Ipswich Public Library marked its 125th anniversary.

911 Emergency Response System activated.

40 foot sperm whale washed up on Crane Beach.

Ipswich Co-Operative Bank purchases Depot Square Liquors building for a new bank.

1995. Hills family store closed after 60 years.

Knowlton House 16-18 County Road was prevented from being torn down by The Historical Commission.

Cape Ann Market, in town since 1976, was bought by the Star Market.

Old Strand Furniture building in Depot Square was knocked down to make way for the Co-Operative Bank.

Town votes to join Essex County Mosquito Control Project.

EBSCO Publishing buys Sylvania property on Union St.

Ipswich Partnership hires a downtown manager.

Carleton Funeral Home sold to John Morris.

Three week celebration to observe the 50th anniversary of the end of WW II.

Lannan Chevrolet was sold to O’Keefe Chevrolet Oldsmobile Geo Inc.

Ipswich Partnership awarded $400,000 grant to revitalize downtown.

The movie “The Crucible” is filmed on Choate Island.

Long needed improvements were done to both Green Street bridge & Labor-in-Vane bridge.

Town took easements at Eagle Hill Landing by eminent domain.

Construction of the fish ladder at the Sylvania Dam was started.

1996. Town votes to build new $31 million middle/high school complex.

Town approves addition to 127-year-old library.

Woolworth building demolished.

Ben Franklin moves into Hills store.

Catholic Archdiocese of Boston announced plans to merge St. Stanislaus (French) and Sacred Heart Church (Polish) and St. Joseph’s Church.

Sources

“Over Three Hundred & Fifty Years of Ipswich History,”compiled for the 350th Anniversary Committee of the Town of Ipswich Massachusetts in 1984 by Elizabeth H. Newton, Alice Keenan and Mary P. Conley, revised by Lee and William Nelson and reprinted in 2001.